As we approach December, I just wanted to send a quick reminder of the Academic Affairs Web Site Design Contest.

We are getting close to the "show me the money" time… December 12, 2003 to be exact.

Best College web site… $1,000.00 award
Best Department web site… $500.00 award
Best Faculty web site… $500.00 award

Criteria will be determined by individual judges, however usability, accessibility and design value are sure to be equally important.

Some information you may find helpful (in no particular order):

- Accessibility
What is it? … in a nutshell:
Accessibility involves two key issues: first, how users with disabilities access electronic information, and second, how web content designers and developers enable web pages to function with assistive devices used by individuals with disabilities.
Useful links:
Accessibility Checklist: http://www-3.ibm.com/able/guidelines/web/accessweb.html
W3C Accessibility Initiative: http://www.w3.org/WAI/
Macromedia Accessibility Solutions: http://www.macromedia.com/macromedia/accessibility/
How people with disabilities use the web: http://www.w3.org/WAI/EO/Drafts/PWD-Use-Web/Overview.html

- Usability
What is it? … again in a nutshell:
Usability is concerned with making systems easy to learn and easy to use. The term is used to describe the quality of a user's experience when interacting with a system - whether a website, a software application, mobile technology, or any other human operated device. A usable system is one which enables users to perform their job effectively and efficiently. The following definition is provided by the International Standards Organization (ISO): Usability is the "effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction with which a specified set of users can achieve a specified set of tasks in a particular environment."
Useful links:

From WM-data/Ericsson: http://www.deltamethod.net/1Introduction_index.htm
Design Tips for Usability: http://www.macromedia.com/devnet/mx/dreamweaver/articles/dwmx_design_tips.html

- Web Design
Good tips from a terribly commercial site (webmonkey):
Design Basics: http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/html/97/05/index2a.html?tw=design
Design Tips: http://hotwired.lycos.com/webmonkey/98/34/index1a.html?tw=design

Graphics from Web Page Design for Designers: http://www.wpdfd.com/wpdgraph.htm
What is good web design? (a considered opinion): http://www.sitepoint.com/article/1164

Download Time Calculator: http://www.martindalecenter.com/AATimeCalc.html

Hope this helps and thank you again for your efforts in making our web site successful - please do continue your efforts - they are appreciated.

-john

John Husfield
USF St. Petersburg Webmaster
husfield@spadmin.usf.edu
Phone: 727/553-4040